Mr. Matthew Abo, the Benue State Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism, has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Zaki Biam, Ukum Local Government Area, LGA.
Mr. Tahav Agerzua, a former Special Adviser on Media and ICT to the state’s immediate past Governor, revealed on his Facebook page on Sunday night that the newly inaugurated Commissioner was taken away by armed men who stormed his private residence around 8 p.m.
According to Mr. Agerzua’s post, armed men attacked the Commissioner’s home on motorcycles and dragged him away at gunpoint after ordering his wife, children, and those with him to lie face down.
Agerzua on his facebook page said, “There are confirmed reports that several gunmen stormed the residence of Matthew Abo, Benue State Commissioner of Information, Culture and Tourism in Zaki-Biam and abducted him about two hours ago.”
“Eyewitnesses state that the kidnappers came on four motorcycles, ordered everyone in the house including the commissioner’s wife and children to lie face down and took him away to an unknown destination on one of the motorcycles.”
“The witnesses said the abductors compelled the commissioner at gun point to sit behind the rider of one of the motorcycles while a gunman sandwiched him.”
“The abduction took place after 8 pm on Sunday, 24th September, 2023. The matter has been reported to the police.”
Abo was sworn in as commissioner and member of the Benue State Executive Council on August 29, 2023 and he hails from Ukum LGA.
Ukum is part of the Sankera axis of the state, which includes the LGAs of Ukum, Logo, and Katsina-Ala. That part of the state has remained the hub of attacks, killings, and kidnappings by unknown gunmen, whose activities have increasingly taken root in that axis despite the presence of security officers.
Effort to get the reaction of the Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent, SP, Catherine Anene was unsuccessful
